Lesson 2 of 5 · 3 min read
When a system is out of service
When sprinklers or the alarm are down, a fire watch replaces automatic protection with patrols and a phone.
Why it matters
A sprinkler system catches a fire early and holds it. A fire alarm warns everyone and often calls the fire department automatically. When either is out of service, the building loses that safety net. A fire watch covers the gap with people walking the area and a reliable way to call for help.
Common code triggers
These are typical examples. Your fire marshal sets the real numbers, so confirm them:
- Sprinklers (NFPA 25). When a required water-based fire protection system is out of service for more than 10 hours in a 24-hour period, the common rule is to evacuate the area or post an approved fire watch, and to notify the authority having jurisdiction. Outages add up across the day, so a repair in the morning and another in the evening can cross the line together.
- Fire alarm. Many local codes use a shorter trigger for the alarm system, often around 4 hours in a 24-hour period, and some count time the system spends in a trouble or supervisory state.
Notify the right people
When a system goes out of service, the owner's team notifies the fire department and the alarm monitoring company, and often the insurer. When it is restored, they notify them again. Know, from your post orders, who makes those calls and whether any are yours.
During the watch
- Patrol the affected areas continuously, on a set route and schedule.
- Know where the exits and the manual fire alarm pull stations are.
- Be ready to warn the occupants that the system is down, sound the alarm, and call 911.
- Keep the required log of every round.
Key points
- When sprinklers or the alarm are out of service, a fire watch replaces automatic protection.
- Common sprinkler trigger (NFPA 25): out of service more than 10 hours in 24, counted cumulatively.
- Fire alarm triggers are often shorter, around 4 hours; your fire marshal sets the real number.
- Notify the fire department and monitoring company when a system goes out and when it is restored.
Picture it
The fire alarm panel has been in trouble since this morning. A technician says it will be another few hours.
Time with the system impaired adds up. Tell your supervisor so the fire department and monitoring company are notified, start patrolling the covered area on a set route, note each round in the log, and confirm you can reach 911 and the pull stations.
Resources
- NFPA: Codes and Standards (free online access)
Read NFPA 1 (Fire Code), NFPA 25 (water-based systems, including impairments and fire watch) and NFPA 51B (hot work) free online. These are the codes most fire marshals adopt.